Salisbury Steak is a simple family recipe that you can serve with mushroom gravy and mashed potatoes. It freezes well and can even be prepared ahead of time.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic for 5 minutes. Remove and let cool. This is optional but it makes them more subtle in texture and flavor which is ideal in Salisbury steak, especially for picky eaters.
Whisk together the egg, milk, mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add the breadcrumbs and stir to form a paste. Stir in the cooked onions/garlic. This is called a panade, it makes the Salisbury steak juicy and flavorful.
Add the ground beef and panade to a large bowl. Use your hands to mix until just combined, don’t overmix or the meat will become tough.
Form into 4 oval steaks.Refrigerate them for 15 minutes to ensure they stay together.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown 2 steaks at a time on each side for 1 minute, remove and set aside. Middle will be uncooked.
Prepare the Gravy
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions for about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of butter along with the mushrooms and cook until golden, about 5 more minutes.
Add the beef broth, beef bouillon, onion powder, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
Bring the gravy to a boil. Combine 3 tablespoons cornstarch + ¼ cup COLD water. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch mixture until desired level of thickness is obtained, you may not need to add it all. Decrease heat to medium.
Add the Steaks
Add the Salisbury Steak back and spoon the gravy on top. Cover and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat, it’s done when the internal temperature reaches 160° F.